Vandalism at Historic Lykhnashta Glade: Linden Tree Damaged, Abkhazia in Shock
On the evening of April 5, an unidentified individual damaged a centuries-old linden tree in the historical Lykhnashta meadow with a chainsaw.
Unknown individuals vandalized centuries-old linden tree in the historical Lykhnashta glade, according to Edgar Kamliya, deputy of the Gudauta District Assembly.
He reported that on the evening of April 5, residents of nearby houses heard the sound of a chainsaw at work.
Kamliya said, "Around 20:00, some residents heard the noise, but nobody could have imagined that someone would cut the tree. Saw marks are visible along its entire circumference. The district head, village head, police, representatives of the State Security Service, and Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab are all on-site. Currently, there are no explanations for the incident."
Lykhny, one of the largest villages in Abkhazia, has been home to Abkhaz sovereign princes and the birthplace of notable figures like Nestor Lakoba, Georgy Dzidzaria, and Konstantin Shakryl. The Lykhnashta glade continues to serve as a venue for national gatherings and various sports and cultural events.
President Aslan Bzhaniya condemned the act of vandalism on this sacred site, which holds significance for all Abkhazians. He ordered law enforcement agencies to take all necessary measures to identify the culprits.
Sergey Bebiya, Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences of Abkhazia and an Honoured Scientist of the Republic, believes the damaged linden tree in the historical glade of Lykhny village cannot be saved.
"Although I haven't seen the tree in person, based on the images sent to me, I don't think it can be saved. It will need to be cut down, or else it will wither within a year. If it's cut down, there's a high probability that new shoots might grow. The country's Prime Minister called me today, inquiring about my opinion on the matter, and he was deeply saddened by the incident," said the scientist.
Bebiya estimates that the age of the Lykhny linden could exceed two centuries. He decried the act of vandalism as inhuman and expressed hope that law enforcement agencies would identify the culprit and ensure they are punished.
We urge you not to cut down the sacred tree! It is essential to do everything possible to save it. If we ourselves are not capable, we should involve foreign specialists. If we need to raise funds, we will collect them as an entire country.
― from DNews Abkhazia
Roman Dbar, director of the Institute of Ecology, expressed doubt that the tree would survive. He said in an interview with Apsnypress, "Given the current spring sap flow and the depth of the cut, the linden tree's survival seems unlikely."
Dbar added that the tree, over 150 years old, symbolizes the resilience and spirit of Abkhazia. He stated, "I regard this action as a terrorist attack aimed at undermining the spiritual values of our people."
The reports can be read on the AbkhazWorld website.